THE OMAHA DAILY JJEK: JriUIJAY. MAlU'ir 2, 1900.
it
IMWVQ PlfllT V() A TADITAI ' flml Providing for the repair of th oM etato
lUllXiO r lull 1 1U1V t lllL horse, was offered by Senator 0. (1. lien-
History of the Struggle for the State
Building at Dei Moines.
WAGED IN THREE SUCCESSIVE ASSEMBLIES
A Cnntral Mini ('nihil Into Artlun
the Host MprnUrrn nml l'nrlln
nicntnrlnnn In tlir State A
Duty Well Done.
nctt, anJ adopted by a vote of 27 to 20.
Then, under the leadcishlp of Senator Mar
a committee. Cutts wanted at oneo to ln
definitely peripono It. while Dudley wantel
It to como up speedily to bo killed. Wil
liam Mills of Dubuque and others beside
eus Tuttle, this amendment was reconsidered myself demanded the usual fair treatment
Tho January number of tho Annals of
Iowa reproduces tho history of tho fight for
tho nor capltol, prepared by Hon. John A.
Kasson several cara ago, but revised by the
utitbor for tho present publication. Mr. Kas.
on was a mcmbor of tho houso In the thrco
assemblies In which the battlo was wnRcd
for tho new building and was tho leader of lorn, was only authorized in bo born
Siy a vote of 26 to 22. and tho bill ami
amendments were referred back lo the com
mllteo on public buildings. All this Indi
cated a lack of organization on either side.
The committee reported on March 30 a sub
stitute on the lines of Bennett's amendment
calling for plans In ft end of authorizing the
work, and appropriating for ropaIVs of tho
old stato houfo. This was eo amended as to
call alto for a plan of n building to cost
$2,000,000. The substitute ns then amcndcJ
Wis adopted on April .1 by a vote of 3D to 7.
It seemed tho only thing then to bo accom
plished In tho senatei. Tho bill camo back to
tho house In Its now form at bo lato a day
that tho only course open to tho friends of
tho capltol wna to accept It. It was passed
tbero on tho Mima day by a vote of 69 to C.
At the end of tho Twelfth general assem
bly tho new capltol. Instead of being leally
In
for the- bill. On my motion to refer, Its
enemies lurther persisted by the demand,
unusual on such occasions, for the yins and
nays, but thu reference was carried by a
voto of C3 to OX Several of
build a new capltol In consideration of the bee. Charles Hcardslcy. Samuel H. I'alrall,
valuable giants of lands and pecuniary sac- Kobert Lowry. Joseph Dysart, BomtiM Mc
UfU-cs madi by the people bf this county Null, (leorpc W. Heml. J. It. Merrill, U. U.
should be fulfilled. HUhards. Jacob (?. Vail. 0. II. Willed, and
Tho sneevli In support of these otbei good and nblo men. The house also
rtopokltlotM, being much Interrupted Included many strong men anil good dc-
by n rattling fire of questions and outers. Among them may be mentioned I
remarks, occupied the remainder of March 8 Ij. Alnsworth, J. V. Duncombe, II. J. Hall,
and part of tho ensuing forencon. At Its Jihn II. Ooar, M. J. Hohlfj, John I. Irish.
conclusion Cults again milled all his In- Mills of Dubuque, Joshua O. Newbold, I'red
those were of tho timid class and could ' gonulty to discredit tho olllclal financial O'Dolincll. II. O. Pratt and J. I Williams.
tho forces In favor of It. Ho thereforo
peaks ffom personal knowledge of every
move- In t.ho great struggle. Tho history of
the fight. In part, In as follows:
Tho famous contest for tho erection of our
rrcscnt state capltol began In 1S6S, In tho
JTwolfth general assembly, ami continued
through tho Thirteenth and Fourteenth ns.
kerablles, covering a period of flvo years.
Tho Fifth general assembly had authorize I
ft corornludon, to select a site for tho per
manent capltol within a ruillus of two
miles from tho Junction of tho Des Moines
nd Haccoon rlvurs; and, nccordlng to tho
unjust practlco of tho time, they vero to re
ceive, from prlvato persons gifts and grnnU
lo tho stato In consideration of such loca
tion. 'A few of tho land owners of Dcs Moines
granted something over twenty urroj of
valuablo land and lots, most of It on nu,
tlovatod eltn oerlooklng the two beautiful
rlvors which hero unite their waters. They
were further required by tho act to erect
t their own cost, for thu legislature, a
temporary state house, and until this should
bo dono without charge to tho stato capltol
was to remain nt Iowa City. This
house was to bo built ns cheaply
as pos3lblo and In haste, nml the
Twelfth assembly whs tho first to occupy
It, In 1858. Tho usual disappointment to
local Investors followed. They had expected
to recoup themselves by a rapid advance In
prices of land nnd lots around the new
capltol. Hut these prlccn did not advance
n expected. Tho financial crisis of 18.17
Iso Intervened. The town wn Mill distant
from railroads, whoso progress hud been
suspended by cmbarriuisnicnts In the finances
of tho country. Town lots, which had been
nlmost an good iw legal tender, were ubund
nnt and unsaleable. 'Money was scarce and
tho times depressing. Nearly all tho do
nators to tho stato wero ruined In purti and
credit. Tho legislature, scftdon after ses
sion, assembled In the hastily erected build
ing which they hail received from a few
ctlzcns as a tort of forced loan and took
no steps toward a new building.
lli'Klniiliiir tlx I nini'i'lK".
Such was tho condition when the Twelfth
general ajoembly met nt Des MolniM. Jona
than W. Cnttell was then I'olk county's
senator. In the second hnlf of his term. At
the time of tho fall election In lSii7 I wna
far away seeking rest and recreation after
several years of hard public labor, when
notice camo to me that 1 had been elected to
tho house of the Twelfth general assembly,
with J. II. Hatch for my colleague. On my
return they told me of the pectal object of
I'olk county In sending me to that legis
lature. John Kussell of Jones county was elected
speaker. Tho hastily erected structure In
which (he assembly was convened had al
ready suffered from the ravages of time and
weather, and had beenmo really Insecure as
well as Inadequate to the wants of the state.
The senate promptly passed n concurrent
resolution and cnt It to the house propos
ing a Joint commltteo to examine the build
ing and report on Its sulllclency for the
ceremonies of tho Inauguration, which
lisuallly attracted to It a largo crowd of
people. Hut thiw committee reported It safe
for nil who could be accommodated within
Its limited urea. We bad the good fortune
lo secure n friendly committee on public
buildings, of which my colleague, Mr. Hatch,
waR chairman, with that most excellent and
Intelligent member, It. M. Hurnctt of Mus
catine, for his second.
On February 1 that committee reported
''an act to provide for tho erection of a
itatn house." limiting tho cost to Jl.rinn.non.
When the bill was taken up on March .1
Charles Dudley of Wapello offered a dilatory
substitute, which was antagonized by all
the friends of tho hill. An amendment wan
offered by Oeorge Ordwuy limiting tho cost
lo $1,000,000 nnd authorizing the census
board lo obtain plant and speclhVatlona to
be reported to the Thirteenth genernl as-
embly. Ordway's amendment was defeated
by a vote of fiS to ?! and Dudley's KUbstltute
was rejected hy a voto of fio to 33. These
votes wero very encouraging to tha friends
nf tho measure. Hut the next day the tight
wa.i renewed by another effort to limit the
cost to Jt.000.000 and again to $600,000. On
tho pmaller amount the yeas wore only 17
and the nays "3. Hut on the question of a
$1,000,000 limit our canvass Indicated to
tie. the expediency of compromising
on that sum for the present
and It was carried by a vote or
62 yeas to 2fi nays. On .March ." the llro
nf amendments continued all along tho line,
nnd some which were embarrassing were
adopted, but none which defeated the main
object of tho bill, which was to a.tually
In Sin tho work and engage the stale for Its
prosecution.
After amendments nf detail, Including a
remarkable and purely seltlsh ono from
Clinton county, that no contract for stono
nr lime should bo made until a rrasouably
direct railroad transportation could be had
between tho Northwestern railroad nnd Des
Moines, tho bill was ordered to be engrossed
nnd rend a third time the. next day. On
March 7, after the bill had been engrossed,
an effort was made by h. V. Stuart of Jack
son to kill the bill by its indefinite poit
ronoment, which was defeated. It was read
a third time anil passed tho hoiiho on that
day by a vote of 55 to 3ti.
A I'hnilKt' nf Seone,
In the senate the auspices changed. A
few memorials had been presented there
against tho commencement of the work,
notably from Ilucbannti nnd Webster coun
ties. Tho houso bill reacheil the senate
on tho day of Its passage by the house, and
went to tho proper t-onato committee, of
which Georgo 12. (irllllth of Warren was
chairman. It was favorably reported back
on March 11 nnd made a special order for
Slarch 10. A substitute for tho bill wna
offered by John Meyer of Jasper, but de
feated. Madison M. Waldeo moved to table
It. but failed by a vote of 25 to 20. Tho
senator frotn Iluchanan trie I to have It In-
definitely postponed, nnd lacked only two
votes (22 to 23) of success. Then began a
-uinning fire o amendments, one of which
prevailed, striking out tho building com-
t inlttoes of tho two houses from the bo.ird of
commissioners on plans. With this oncour
ngement Its enemies rushed other amend
menta forward, and fonio of them endangor
tag the fate of the bill wero adopted. The
opponents of thn bill soon found thcniselvcs
on top In the fight. They pressed their ml
antages llko good soldiers until Cnttell
could only rally votes enough to postpone
Its further consideration to March 25. and
print tho bill which had been much cut up
oy thn various changes Introduced. The bill
nixl its friendci In tho senate wero alike
demoralized, It was almost a rout. On
March 2t. an amendment in thn nature or
substitute, to merely authorize an ad
vertisement for plana for a new capltol J
not be counted on for IU final pawage. As
a preliminary skirmish tho showing
of votes was a discouragement to us. But
1 seized upon tho expressed desire of Its
enemies for early nctlon to secure the adop
tion of a motion making It the peclal order
for an early day after the Impending rocoff
When tho d.iy nrrlvcd the committee had
not reported. Its chairman was absent, nnd
wo wero compelled to ask a postponement of
tho special order to March. Again Dudley
and Cults fought the proposition, nven as
a courtesy, end demnnded yens and naH
statement which 1 had produced appnr- A political assembly likes Homing DMior
ently somowhat to his surprlso-and Irish that, an Investigation for fraud or othur
iutertiosed nlso. In rcnlv to him. raiKCondUct. The wenato had now some re.i-
After tho second speeches of Cults and ' for Its fears, nnd itartcd cany on inn
Irish I took the Iloor for a final nnd meas. Hoe to discover whatever was wrong in tho
ured reply lo all Its opponents, and an U"Poctod foundation ami suspicious con
anneal to members to vote necordlnc to tracts for mnterluls. They passed a coti-
thuir honeet convictions; nnd then de- cuncni resolution lor mo appointment oi a
manded tho provtotu question In order to Joint committee of Investigation, nnd nlsa
get a vote before tho udjoumment on that "PPolnted a special committee of their own
,iv r-.,.. -,,i ..ii ., , n, ,i, mil body on the new capltol. In addition to
voted against tho previous question, but It
carried by alio small majority of forty-seven
case tho next goneraly assembly should per
mit It. Wo had lost our first petition, had
fallen back on our second line, and waited
nnd hoped foa reinforcement In tho future
report of th commissioners on building
plans to be adopted. We forosaw a greater
light to come. Wo had perhaps gnlned Bomo
ndvantage lu having aroused tho uttontlon
of the stato to tho question.
The .Sfoonil llnttle.
To tho next general nsscmbly I'olk county
stnt 11. I. Allen to tho neiiate. Ho
wns then a prosperous and Influen
tial banker, widely known In tho stato, and
an old settler. Ho was no speaker, but per
bapa on that account bpttcr adapted to con
ciliate tho Hcnato by his pleasant manners
and practical good sense. His effective work
therft fully Justified our confidence In him.
To the houso tho county sent George. W.
Jones, who, llko Senator Allen, was not a
speaker, but was supposed to be a good
worker nmoug his associated on the Iloor.
They nlso leturncd mo for the second time
to tho house.
Of our old and Irreconcilable enemies, J.
W. Tracr of Denton, Charles Dudley of Wa
pello, Joel Ilrown of Van Huren wero all
back agoln, and wero now strongly rein
forced by ii new and nblo leader, M. K.
Cutts of Mnhaska, who loved opposition nnd
a fight for its own sake and for the fun of
It. Ho was argumentative, sarcastic, bold
lu wtntcment nnd persistent, refusing all
concessions, nnd proof against conviction.
He fnr more loved to Httack than to do
fend any cause. On our side many old
friends of the measure were returned, and
notably among them John I'. Irish of John
son, who was ready, eloquent nnd strong In
debate. My good friend Pat Gibbons of
Keokuk was also there to aid us with his
llp overflow lug with Irish humor. Many
other strong friends of ours were content
to bo silent voters.
In tho consideration of tho rapltol bill
on tho motion. This tUno they were badly t0 forty.nvCi nml m, lu0 m(lln ,,UMlon of
beaten ty a vote oi mxiy-iwo to cisniccn. t engrossment R carried by forty-nine to
Hut this Incident proved to us that the fight ( forty.cRUt. u wu, uncomfortably close,
President
and
wns to bo a desperate one to the end
nil along the lino without quarter.
lliillerli'N In Aellou.
On March S, after a preliminary skirmish
o?r an amendment, the mo3t exciting de
bate of nil tho sessions came on. C. C. Ap-
thelr own standing commlttoo on public
buildings. The houso agreed to the Joint
lnostlcatlnc committee. Their report cin-
denined the foundation and the quality cf !
the stone. In the meantime n new bill win
reported in both house and senate. That of
the senate was not acted upon and was in
definitely postponed utter tho houso bill
reached the senate.
Tin I'liutl Coiileit.
Tho third and last Important contest over
tho erection of the new capltol was now
nnd Indlcntcd tho necessity of moro tlmo
to cnuvusa tho members for the two addi
tional votes necessary lo Its ndoptlon. We
did not dare nt that time to tnke the final
vote on Its passage. 1 promptly made the
motion to ndjourn the house nnd felt greatly
nleeato of Scott oticned on our sldo with a . relieved when It was ndonted. Tho next
short nnd very senalblo speech, giving hl3 ! iny the commltteo reported it duly en- inaugurated upon tho report of the houso
reasons for supporting the bill. Tracr and grossed; but for four weckB we did not dare committee on public buildings, of which
Hall competed lor mo iloor to open for the to call it up for a third reading, for wo William Duller was chairman. Tho amend
opposition and tho speaker neslgned it to could not iiBsuro to our sldo tho necessary utory net wns reported on February 27,
Mr. Traer. He moved tho Indefinite post- ; ntty-otie votes to pass It. Tho Intimidating 1S72, and its consideration was postponed
ponemcnt of tho bill. His points were that tactics or our leading enemies had bivn too fiom tlmo to tlmo until April 2, because of
the finances of tho state wero In a bad effective. Wo know by our c.inaH that tin delay In the report of tho Investigating
conditions nnd would not permit this nddl- honest Judgment of a decided majority was committee. On Hint day It was taken up,
with us. Yet they were nfrnld tj veto their and 1 moved that the names of John G.
convictions. It was an anxious month of rcoto of Hurllngton, Maturln I.. Fisher of
waltlnir for the frlemU of tho new capltol. Clayton county. Itobert S. Flnkblnc and
i.'iiini vine. Peter A. Day of Johnson county, two re
In the meantime boll, sides wero vtRllnnt l-ubllcanB and two democrats, all of whom
Li. ,i.,. .), ...r boro the highest character, should be In-
;"Tr : Uerted in the bill as commissioners In charge
VI VlllLU OWillV IUI IIILI ii4uiii'ni.i.Mi irj v
Ing out Intimations of attempted bribery,
Its friends denounced nnd ridiculed them
tlonal expenditure, that It could not bo
granted without Increasing tho rate of taxa
tion, nnd that the charitable Institutions
needed all the support that the revenues of
the stato would permit. It wns n tempernto
speech, though his figures wero carelessly
assembled. Patrick Gibbons, the genial
member from Lee, followed him with some
humorous and sensible remarks In favor of
the capltol. Hall of Jefferson then made ,t
rambling talk about everything except tho
bill Itself, and aroused much laughter by bis
talk, and declared his unalterable opposition
to tho bill. Next came our friend. Johti P.
Irish, with a manly and strong speech In ad
vocacy of tho measure, replying to both Mr.
Tracr and Mr. Hall. The latter, In the courso
of Mr. Irish's speech, admitted If ho were
left freo to voto he would vote for this, ap
propriation -a candid admission which truly
represented the real Inclination of the ma
of tho building. The governor was ex-olllcio
of the board. Tho old board was summarily
and challenged the proof. There were a'so abolished. After a hard struggle with tho
sotno heMllo remonstrances and some favor- representatives of tho Institutional cnuntltt.,
nblo petitions; and other homo Influences a permanent annual appropriation or $125.-
over members were specially provided In the 000 wns secured, thus enabling the comnils-
meantime, and forwarded to the capltol. At slon to proceed with necessary contracts
last It was certified to us that If wo would for futuro dcllcry, and leaving to futuro
ndtnlt a couple of riders on the third reading legislatures only the question of nddl-
wo could securo the additional votes re- tlonal grants of money to hasten tho
quired. Tho situation was so critical that work of construction, as tho condition of thu
wo accepted, though with great reluctance treasury might allow. Many amendmen'n
on my part, the proposed amendments. Hoth were oltered to limit tho total cost of tho
Jorlty. After Irish came Cutts. tho AJnx of sides rallied all their forces for tho lln.il capltol. I,, h. Alnsworth. n formidable an-
tho opposition. He made a long speech of
mingled wit, vaporing nnd argument, and
dealt especially with tho amount of taxes de
linquent In different counties as evidence of
tho poverty of tho treasury and people. Ho
displayed this poverty In picturesque lan
guage, and portrayed "little children run-
i,, nrmiml with thnlr little knoes nrotrud-
Ing through their pants, their coats alt
......... ..U.. ..J. ....... U..
Ulliuil'lt'a uimmium-ii iij lira, niiv- .... . , , . ll.il..
fourth of the members of the house, whose ' .md tattered and torn, their little
votes wero guided by their fears nnd not
by their dcllbernto Judgment, as the result
will show. We knew by pcrsonnl conver
sation that tho honest convictions of n large
majority of tho members wero favorable to
bcKlnnlng then this Important public work
cans with the forepleces off nnd all torn
their father had gone to the county seat to
trial, and wo on our side resolved to call up tugonlst, who partially undertook the former
the bill ror Its mini reading on me morning roe of cuttH moVed a limit of cost to $750.
of April &. which wns four weeks after Its ono Tnl8 .., defeated by fit votes
engrossment. The two rider amendments to n A proposition for a limit of
wero adopted without n division, nnd the $.,000,000 wns also defeated. Duncombe
roll began. Kvery member was present ex- mnw. It nmll of jt.ooo.OOO. which wao lost
cept three. Hall nnd galleries were crowded ,,y a yoto of 6S , 3, Another
to overflowing, as they bad been throughout mf4mnir prop0ScM an absolute limit of
tho debate. Many members had roll-calls $, noo oon ,vnlcn wns ,,, ,PRl by r,rt
in their hands keeping count ns tho call vnfoB ,n . v..rihir.. ., lmie.
proceeded, myself among them. The silence I cMt q( thp hmae McnW(l to roncentratr.
McKinley
will be renominated at
Philadelphia June
19 next.
The campaign for his re-election
promises to be one of the most hotly
waged political battles in the history of
our country.
was Intense not a sound was heard save
rather Indefinitely, upon a cost of about
Into that macnlflcent stnte bouse." He also
rehrnrscd that oft-repeated picture of Kng-
ll.,l, tuvnllnii whrrn nvervtllinc Is taxed
n mis important punue worx. ' , ,,,,,
There was also nnother Interest adverse irom uie ci mi.-.u ,
to us. Our stato institutions were widely I "ome cinbe llshments i to that . He PPW'
scattered over tho state. Kvery ropresenta- ; to every elenun which mlg lit crea e t in -live
of a county where one of these was sit- i Idlty in the members, xelto lh. lr prej ud dees
uuted wo eager for a large appropriation nnd turn them by both those In""""
for his particular Institution and nBnlnt the bill. Ho nr oused t"?.' ' j
fnirel that an annual appropriation "Ion of tho members from the iMtltiilloiial
for a now capltol would reduce the amount counties lest money should be la. k g or
of state funds on which ho could draw. Tho their homo wants 1 1 would be dll lie ult I n
Pnmhmn.mn nf these local Interests was a deed, to surpass that speech In its artful
pay out the last half dime which is to go the clerk's monotonous call of names and L, R00 nno f h ' nmendment wn of-
1 LiV llllnn t I IIJ" 'l "' " diiwm n...
forcd that tho commission nhnuM change
l' ( I in mill dvpciiuii Mium i in iif,unn v . . . ....,1,1
nf or my name on the roll-call. This will -1 1 f"uni1 lhat
remind some of you of a laughable Incident s"'' 1 n5 hnroly defe, ed by a
that occurred at the time. If wo hud titty- voto of 41 to AO. Hnally an
one ayes (no mntter about the nays) tho nmendment In effect Instructing the corn-
bill became a law, nnd I wns thereforo only " ' v "V'1-" ' - -'""'
..nnmim- i Im nvn. At the moment the clerk "hich was offered by II. J. Hnll of Dtirllng-
callcd my name 1 wns writing the number ton, was carried by a voto of 53 to
of yeas, and Inadvertantly answered the call ". our menus m-ccpiwiK u. i
by shouting "dwenty." nt the top of my bill wns then eugrcreed nnd passed by the
voice. It broke the silent tension of feeling. Mrgo vote of c.l to 21.
nml for nearlv two minutes tho roll-call Tho bill reached tho sennto the next day
heso local Interests was a "u' ""u ..,' o,ir,, mam,,er ! censed, while the whole house and audience and was promptly takon up on motion of
powerful one and very threatening and t "7'n"0 " ..,., nKalnHt thu ' were convulsed with laughter. I do not Senator Falrall on April 5. The bill was
wiih cmninven inr us iuii cuci'i. 11 if i'i- - -
ment of opposition wns nlso
by the customary nppcals to outside jealousy
of tho capltol.
Such wan the condition In the' house when
the new bill was taken up for discussion. .
It. Cotton of Clinton wns speaker nnd Samuel
Murdock of Clnyton was chairman of the
building committee.
In tho Twelfth gciernl assembly we had
Introduced tho capltol bill first In the hout
patscd it by a good majority and sent it to
the senate, where It was sadly mutilated
nnd then slaughtered. In the Thirteenth we
rovcrsed this procns and had the bill flrt
reinforced entire proposition. It Is always caBter to
combat a host or reasonaDie orKuuiciua ui
a single sqund of fearful prejudices.
KiiiKiin'N Vrmimeiit.
Still.
dchnte In sunrort of the bill.
1 honestly believed that tho character and
reputation of my state was depreciated by
Its mean ond narrow housing of Its govern
ing bodies. A grnnd building, displaying tho
noble lines nnd proportions of elegant archi
tecture. Is nn object lesson nnd source of
instruction for nil the people. Like n superb
monument to a national hero. It awakens
! M,I.. Lnnllmmils nnd Is nn InHiiliation to a
...l .. iun 'lin.A f!nnri.n 1.. ' . .... ... . .... .
m.ii-11 uu in u. mim.v, ..v . " . 0ftpr plane of tliougnt ami oi me. a siaie,
Griffith of Warren nan ngain chnlrman of I )jk(l nn tn1(ii v(iun . mt present a decenl
tho building committee. This committee
having now before It the plans and sped
(lcatlons authorized by the previous assem
bly, reported the new bill on Jc.niiary
nnd tho senate made it a special order for
February 1. It was then taken up. slight')
amended nnd on the same day engrotsed by
a vote of 25 to 21. On the next day It was
rend the third lime and passed by n voto of
! know that tho nilhtako made any votes for then engrossed and passed Immediately by
us. but It certainly put-.our opponents Into 34 votes to 0 In the senate.
a more amlablo hilnior. The. olllclal count On tho following day tho senate amend
gave us ono solitary vote to spare, fifty-two ment, which was now tho only point of dlf-
It remained for mo to take up tho ; to forty-six. with only two absentees, i no ference between tho two nouses, was caiieii
Immenso auuienco snooK me iruii wuns ui up, and on my motion io concur mere were
the old bluldlng with their applause. There to votes in Its favor to 40 ngalnst
wns the usual motion to reconsider nnd to n. Kaln wo Incked two votes to meet the
lay that on the table, upon which sixty-six constitutional requirement. Wo were very
members voted with our friends, and only nc(lr the end for which we hnd so long tolled
thirty-one oled ngalnst them. Two-thirds ilm. f011si,t, nnd yet tho constitutional clause
of tho houso indirectly bcirieniieu mo mca- re(,urnK fty-one nfllrmatlvo voted to every
sure. This vote probaniy representeu mc , ,00(, )0twcrn ,ls nnd flnnl victory. Wo
renl Judgment of the house, certnlnly much .u..lveiy busied ourselveM nmong the room-
more man mo vote nn us passage.
The senate promptly concurred In the
amendments, nnd the now capltol was Hnally
Are You a
Loyal Republican?
If so you will want to keep informed
of the progress of the contest and you
can keep abreast of the events in no
way so well as by reading The Bee from
day to day.
Do You Want
McKinley and Prosperity?
If so, you owe it to yourself and your
party to do what you can to strengthen
his cause. You can strengthen the re
publican cause no better than by dis
seminating good republican literature in
the form of a daily or weekly newspaper
like The Bee, which will carry republi
can principles to the home and fireside.
decent
exterior to the world. A man may Indeed
clothe himself In ragged garments and yet
he a virtuous citizen; but among men gen
erally be will have a discredited reputation,
and Invites neglect and contumely. So It Is
with a state. Her outer garments arc her
capltol, her public Institutions, her school
houses, her churches, nnd tho men whom
she honors with her sutfrnge. if thise win
hers nnd obtained a reconsideration of the
vole. The samo afternoon the repeated vote
27 to IS. having a majority of two-thirds In admiration nnd praise, her place Is exalted
tho sennte. W. C. Unman. Its opponent at the
previous session, now supported It. and
Samuel II. Kalrull of Johnson admirably con
trolled Its parliamentary managiUient.
Condition Itcverseil.
Thus ttrongly approved by the senate It
camo over to the house. Dut tho house
seemed to have changed after two years as
well as tho senate, only In the reverse way
Not changed. 1 think, in its real opinion,
but lu tho courngo of Its convictions. The
opposition wns now much moro effectively
otgnnizedunderthoagi'rcsslvo and much more
effective leadership of Cults, whose special
province it wns to terrorize tho representa
tive! from rural counties by predictions of
cMTsslvo taxation and poverty as a conse
quence of building tho now capltol. Truer
of Denton and Joseph Hall of Jeffcrnon
pushed tho equally Indefensible argument
that It was a moro local outerprlso for the
benefit of Dcs Moines. The ltnal result wns
In doubt from the beginning of the session
to tho end of the contest. Kvery day wjj
a day nf anxiety to Ito friends. It was dcs-
tlncd to bo the longest continued and tlu
among her sisters of tho republic. Hut in
my speech 1 dared not trust much to senti
mental arguments. It was necessary to
keep our feet on solid ground. Tho follow
ing principal propositions were presented by
mo:
1. That tho temporary stato houso do
nated to the state was wholly Insufficient for
the accommodation of tho legislature and
stato ofucora, had become wholly unsafo for
stato archives, and was liable to quick de
struction by fire and oven by storm, owing
lo tho sinking nnd scparntlnn of Its walls.
Thcso allegations wero proved by tho nb
senco of all commltteo rooms, by the fact
that commltteo papers were carried about
In tho pockets or hats of committeemen, and
by their own personal observation of defects
lu tho walls, by the fact of previous fires
and by tho report of a pro
fessional architect.
2. That tho figures presented by
Messrs. Truer and Cutts of the
poverty cf the state and of Its
treasury shamefully discredited our finan
cial condition, nnd were grossly incorrect.
and that tho appropriation domanded could
toughcat parliamentary battlo I ever fought lie inld out of existing resources without
In either capltol, at Dcs Moines or at Wash
ington.
Tho bill wns received from tho senato
Kcbruary 7. and upon tho customary motion
to refer It to tho regular home commltteo
tho light began. Tracr, who was our op
ponent from tho beginning, jumped to his
feet to oppose even tno usual reference to
increase of taxation, and without harm to
other Etnto Institutions. This w i.i proved
by nfllclal statistics from tho auditor and
from the trcasuier of the slate.
3. That tho old building would become
r.bfolutely untenable by the time tho new
capital could be llnlshed If begun now.
4 Tint the taipllel ohllgathn of thestatoto
unnn , V, n fiiinjllmi nf pntinllrrrtHPn with hn
authorized by law. Of course there was Joy wa- raei (() M t( M. aml m) a(
In mc capital cuy m ura .iuiui.n. iu imini
cf I'olk county expressed their satisfaction
by a procession heiilcd by music and bear
ing to my dcor a gold-headed cane, which I
have handed over to Mr. Charles Aldrlch
as a souvenir of the event, to bo deposited
In that C.ipltol Museum which does so much etnte, protracted through three general ns-
boiior to Its founder and to tho state. semhlles and covering a period of five years
. ,ii,. was now finished. The question whether wo
The selection of the commissioners of tho sl-nl"1' hnvt' " M'"nK nnd dignified homo for
building was not left, as It should hnvu
last, the act became the law of the state.
Undrr this net t'lo work went on smoothly to
completion.
Wurl. on Hie llllllillnu
The long fight for a capltol wot thy of the
been, to tho responsibility of the governor,
ncr even to tho earnest friends of tho new
capltol. Two of them, selected nt largo,
were forced Into the. bill by tho rider on
Its third reading, as nn allege.! condition
n wi.n., Qiv ithnra worn nnmlnnlprl hv
' '.,i in.u .i nin,,...! in ininf participation In the work.) The names of
legislative, convention.' My earnest request tho , commissioners on the. cornet
t... .. i,nr,i M. ..r.-ntr,! stone, which would lwve perpetuated their
III' iHiii-jun iiL-Hi, ..,.. ..h. (,uw n, .. . .
Tho commission was too large, and tho
cholro In most Instances wern dictated by
our state sovereignty, legislative, executive
and Judicial, and a safe depository for our
stato archives wan at last tettled in the
affirmative, Tho new commissioners began
with the foundation, replacing the bad ma
terial with good. (Tho condition of Mr,
Fisher's health dobarred him from active
failure with their nimcs. disappeared from
view. Krom this tlmo onward the three ne
partisan nnd ' personal considerations. Wo lvo commissioners manifested the greatest
feuied tho result; and tho result was bad
I'r.der their direction the foundation was
laid, but tho work and materials were, so
caro and a most wise discretion lu every
dotall of tho work. Never was a corrupt
or misspent dollar charged to their account
.!.... I.... ,!,..( nul.ll,. rumnr f.ll,.r,tH thn ' PHI"' I" ' I'"-' " ' huhusij III me Im
probability of another legislative fight In ,cml't,lr. nf h)Xf '"oney which require
' . . .... n ilnllnr wnrln fnp ovnrv ilnllfir ennn. ivn.
th next assembly over mo wnolo question ' , . ... . . .V. .
It might even endanger tho
their conslnnt guide. Thanlo to their un
usual fidelity to this obligation nnd to their
of tho capltol.
n..tl,n ocnlnnl Thn nnnrnnrlatlnn liml Vini
.J fn m',u. mm inr, it un r. i wise- tact In procedure, the senntors and
for tho succesEful progress of tho work that rcprwcntaUvcB trus cd them srwlon after
there slvould be a continuous annual appro- E'fiSlon, " anou'ts Uv 1,1 ". of
m i. .n ,iM-r..,ine,i ia mJu tLh. !o original estimates until tho cost nt tho
, ... ,. ,w ,. n,b
for this In connection with tho now bill,
which seemed to have bccoiuu necessary
In aid of this purpose. I'olk county sent mo
finished etructuro has nmnunted to 52,87',
t;82.o:. Instead of grumbling and dissatis
faction on tho part of tho people over tho
buck for the' third timo-to the Fourteenth M'"'''0 wus PrWo In the noble
ni iihwt nunmMv with finnnrnl I f UUUUIUh.
fjtllt.ttaa v ...... - ui .'I. I UU-
Ho for inv colleague, Mr. Allen being hap-
plly still In the senate.
'I had dyspepsia for years. No medlclns
A IIAItl) I.I C'K TUW.V.
The cenalo was unusualy strong in Itn was R0 effective as Kodol Dyspepsia Cure,
membership. It embraced William I.arra- 11 Ravo Immodlato relief. Two bottles pro.
uureii marvelous results," writes u. 11. war
ren, Albany, Wis. It digests what you eat
and cannot fall to cure,
fc3 fir"' C3r
Do You Know
Any Doubtful Voters?
If so, jet them to subscribe for The
Bee and thus inspire them with repub
lican doctrine. The Bee's editorial
discussions treat of every day topics in
an intelligible and convincing manner
from the republican standpoint. You
can have The Weekly Bee sent to any of
your friends or neighbors from now un
til after election for 35 cents. We
make this unprecedentedlylow offer, tak
ing the chances on havinsf the reader
subscribe for himself before that time
expires.
ej-s.
A TONIC
BLATZ
MALT-VI VI
(S'on-lntoxicaat)
sfioufd be in everu
horns. It makes
the bodu &trona
ann the
A )
AJ7
nerues
sound
Ham Katte-t suppoie I can have a full orchestra In the opera house tonight''
Natlvo Not unless you payu cm In advuu;. That band alu't got twenty cents among cuil
Pop
Stcmach
troubfes
A NO
Insomnia.
Doctors
pmcribe it for
the nurmnj mother
ALL IJRUacjISTS
VAL. BLATZ BRUWINU CO,. MILWAUKEE
OMAHA IlltAM II
nr.' not M, as vriiKirr,
TUL.UrilU.MJ 10S1.
Do You Want
Nebraska Redeemed?
That is what The Bee is working for
day by day. It is exerting itself in very
direction to reinforce the party organiza
tion and bring the state again into the
republican column. Do you think you
can make any better acknowledgment
of the prosperity enjoyed under a re
publican administration than by helping
along in this movement bv subscribing
for The Bee yourself and pushing it
among friends and neighbors?
Step!
Do You Read The Bee
arly? If Not, Why Not?
K,..,.dPoryeBr'TiliSB?p.rBlll!s!llflfl Co,,
Illuylr.it. 1 $8.00
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Weekly j., 65c L
Omaha,
